Wildwood's Beauty pulls upset in Sheer Drama

It’s hard to believe Stormy Embrace could have suffered through an unluckier trip than she did a year ago when finishing a disappointing third as the 1-2 favorite in the $100,000 Sheer Drama Stakes at Gulfstream Park. But sure enough, that’s exactly what happened when the two-time Grade 2 Princess Rooney winner finished an even more troubled fourth behind the 20-1 Wildwood’s Beauty as the 2-5 choice in Saturday’s Sheer Drama.

Wildwood’s Beauty, the only 3-year-old in the field, stalked the pace from the outset of the seven-furlong Sheer Drama. She readily assumed command midway on the turn, shook off a try from Heiressall while kept out in the center of the course by jockey Samy Camacho upon entering the stretch, gradually increasing her advantage to 3 3/4 lengths at the wire. Heiressall was easily second-best, finishing 5 3/4 lengths in front of Ms Meshak.

Stormy Embrace earned an automatic, expenses-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint by virtue of her second straight victory in the Princess Rooney in her previous start on June 29. Her troubles on Saturday began after breaking a step slow from her inside post and checking back to unfamiliar territory near the rear of the field leaving the seven-furlong chute. Stormy Embrace angled extremely wide trying to rally exiting the turn but failed to kick on, even once she finally switched leads near midstretch.

The loss snapped a personal five-race win streak aboard Stormy Embrace for jockey Wilmer Garcia.

Wildwood’s Beauty, a two-time stakes winner at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this season, gave trainer Scott Becker his first win of the summer meet. Owned by William Stiritz, she completed the distance in 1:23.15 over a fast track and paid $43.80.

“She felt really good in the post parade. When the gates opened, she put me in the pocket and got a bit strong on the bit. She dragged me to the lead,” Camacho said. “At the quarter pole, when I saw that no one was coming, I said, ‘This is my race.’”